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Hassan Rouhani takes over as Iran president | Hassan Rouhani takes over as Iran president |
(35 minutes later) | |
Cleric Hassan Rouhani has officially replaced Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president of Iran. | |
Mr Rouhani's election has been endorsed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at a ceremony in the capital, Tehran. | |
He won the presidential poll in June, promising to reform and to put an end to Iran's international isolation. | |
The ceremony marks the handover of power, but his public inauguration does not take place until Sunday. | |
The 64-year-old is a former nuclear negotiator for Iran and was an Islamic activist before the 1979 Revolution. | |
Final say | Final say |
He has the support of Iran's reform movement, which wants the new president to release political prisoners and have international sanctions lifted. | |
But while he may be taking over as president, he will not be Iran's main decision-maker, says the BBC's Iran correspondent James Reynolds in London. | But while he may be taking over as president, he will not be Iran's main decision-maker, says the BBC's Iran correspondent James Reynolds in London. |
In the Islamic Republic, it is the Supreme Leader, not the president, who has the final say, our correspondent adds. | |
The day before he took office, Mr Rouhani said Israeli occupation was an "old wound on the body of the Islamic world", as Iran marked its annual Jerusalem (Quds) Day. | |
His remarks echo those of other Iranian leaders on the day dedicated to supporting the Palestinians and denouncing Israel. | His remarks echo those of other Iranian leaders on the day dedicated to supporting the Palestinians and denouncing Israel. |
Iran has denied Israel's right to exist since the 1979 Islamic revolution. | Iran has denied Israel's right to exist since the 1979 Islamic revolution. |
In his last interview before stepping aside on Friday, Mr Ahmadinejad also attacked Israel, warning of "storm brewing" in the region that would uproot Zionism, according to AFP news agency. | In his last interview before stepping aside on Friday, Mr Ahmadinejad also attacked Israel, warning of "storm brewing" in the region that would uproot Zionism, according to AFP news agency. |
Many Iranians believe Mr Ahmadinejad, elected twice in controversial polls, has put Iran on the path to economic ruin and confrontation with the outside world. |